Isengard

2006-12-08T17:21:23Z

84.9.117.2:

[[Image:Rob_Alexander_-_Isengard.jpg|right|thumb|300px|''Isengard'' by [[Rob Alexander]]]]
'''Isengard''' ("Iron Fortress", '''Angrenost''' in [[Sindarin]]), was a great fortress at the southern tip of the [[Misty Mountains]].

{{quote|My business is with Isengard tonight— with the rock and stone.| [[Treebeard]]}}

Isengard was built in the mid-[[Second Age]] around the [[Towers|tower]] of [[Orthanc]] by the [[Númenor]]eans in exile. Its location was at the north-western corner of the Southern Kingdom of [[Gondor]], guarding the [[Fords of Isen]] from enemy incursions into [[Calenardhon]] together with the fortress of [[Aglarond]] to its south.

The river Angren (or [[Isen]]) began at [[Methedras]] behind Isengard, which also formed its northern wall. The other three sides were guarded by a large wall, known as the '''Ring of Isengard''', which was only breached by the inflow of the river Angren at the north-east through a portcullis, and the gate of Isengard at the south, at both shores of the river.

Isengard was a green and pleasant place, with many large trees and grass fields, fed by the Angren. Orthanc stood in the exact centre.

During the early [[Third Age]] the land of [[Calenardhon]] became depopulated, and the last warden of Orthanc was recalled to [[Minas Tirith]]. Isengard remained guarded by a small company, led by a hereditary captain, much like happened in Angrenost at the time.

After Calenardhon was given to the [[Éothéod]] by [[Cirion]], [[Steward of Gondor]], and became [[Rohan]], Isengard remained part of Gondor, although Gondor almost forgot about it. The small guard intermarried much with the [[Dunlendings]], until the fortress became a Dunlending fortress in all but name. Orthanc however remained closed, as the Steward of Gondor alone held the keys.

During the rule of [[Rohan|Rohan's]] King [[Déor]] it turned out that Isengard had become openly hostile to the [[Rohirrim]]. Using Isengard as their base, the Dunlendings continued to raid Rohan during Déor's son [[Gram|Gram's]] rule, until during the rule of Gram's son [[Helm Hammerhand]] a Dunlending lord, [[Freca]] and his son [[Wulf]] nearly managed to destroy the Rohirrim. The Rohirrim eventually won, taking Isengard, and guarding it for Gondor.

During the time of the Steward of Gondor [[Beren]], [[Saruman|Saruman the White]] suddenly reappeared from the [[East]], and he offered to guard Isengard. Beren gladly gave him the keys to Orthanc, and Saruman settled there. After him the valley became known as [[Nan Curunír]] ("Valley of Saruman").

During the [[War of the Ring]] Isengard was Saruman's base of operations against the Rohirrim, and he defiled the valley, cutting down its trees and damming and diverting the Angren. Isengard's valley was destroyed by deep pits, used for breeding [[Uruk-hai]] and smithying weapons. Isengard became home to countless [[Orcs]], whom Saruman used to try to conquer Rohan. In 3441, an army of [[Ents]] and [[Huorns]] led by [[Treebeard]] of [[Fangorn Forest|Fangorn]] attacked Isengard, taking the fortress, although they could not take Orthanc.

The [[Hobbits]] [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] and [[Peregrin Took]] as the new "doorwardens" received [[Théoden]] King of Rohan, [[Aragorn]] and [[Gandalf]] at the gates. Saruman was confronted but refused to beg for pardon, and he was released into Treebeard's guard together with his servant [[Gríma Wormtongue]]. Saruman abandoned Isengard after [[Sauron]]'s defeat, playing off Treebeard's hatred of caging any living thing in order to manipulate him into letting him leave.

During the [[Fourth Age]] Isengard was restored, and Treebeard replanted many trees. The Ents tore down the walls of the ring, and named the new forest the '''Treegarth of Orthanc'''. Orthanc became again a tower of the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of [[Aragorn|King Elessar]].

== See Also ==
* [[Orthanc]]
* [[:Category:Images of Isengard]]
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[[Category:Isengard and Saruman]]
[[Category:Fortresses]]

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Isengard